France says over 20 died trying to cross channel to Britain

More than 30 migrants died on Wednesday trying to cross the English Channel, a major waterway that runs between France and Great Britain.  

Of the 34 people who were on the boat, 31 died, two had been rescued and one was still missing, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed, per Reuters.

He added that the two survivors were experiencing “severe hypothermia.” 

“Their life is in danger,” he said of the survivors.

Darmanin previously said in a tweet that he was headed to the scene earlier on Wednesday. 

“Strong emotion in the face of the tragedy of numerous deaths due to the capsizing of a migrant boat in the English Channel,” he said. 

Forte émotion devant le drame des nombreux morts dû au chavirage d’un bateau de migrants dans la Manche.

On ne dira jamais assez le caractère criminel des passeurs qui organisent ces traversées. Je me rends sur place.

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) November 24, 2021

A fisherman, Nicolas Margolle, told Reuters that he saw two dinghies earlier on Wednesday. He said one had people aboard and the other was empty. Upon seeing the empty boat, another fisherman called a rescue operation after he saw 15 bodies that were motionless floating nearby. 

Margolle noted to the news service that he had seen more dinghies out on Wednesday because the weather was good “but it’s cold.”

The English Channel is a high-traffic area for commercial shipping, and the waterway is known to have strong currents. Reuters reported that the migrants made their way across the channel with the hope for calm conditions this time of year, though the water is particularly cold.

However, small boats, especially when overloaded, often can barely stay afloat amid big wakes and tall waves.

French police, however, have stopped more crossings recently than in previous years, Reuters added. 

Updated: 3:03 p.m.